Serology Flashcards
What are the functions of serological methods?
- Diagnosis of infectious diseases
- Detect serum antibodies to infectious agents
- Identify microorganisms in clinical specimens
What reaction is involved in serological methods?
Reaction between antigen and antibodies from a clinical specimen
If other specimens are utilized, what is this method called?
Immunological methods or immunoassays
Antigen-antibody interactions can result in a variety of consequences.
Enumerate these consequences.
- Precipitation of soluble antigens
- Agglutination of particulate antigens
- Neutralization of toxins or viruses
- Activation of complement
What is the principle of precipitation?
- Soluble antigens react with antiserum
- Increased number of hydrophobic groups brought into close proximity within the developing Ag-Ab complex
- Number reaches critical level
- Water becomes excluded
- Formation of an insoluble, visible precipitate
What test is referred to as precipitation in liquid?
Precipitin test
What is the process performed in precipitin tests?
Addition of increasing amounts of Ag to a series of test tubes containing a constant volume of antiserum
When does precipitation occur in precipitin test?
Precipitation reaction occurs when bivalent or multivalent antibodies and antigens are mixed in proper proportion
